Fluid separator

ABSTRACT

A fluid separator for separating solids from a liquid or separating a heavier substance from a lighter liquid substance by means of centrifugal force in conjunction with the eddy current principle comprising a housing or jacket containing a spirally formed fluid conduit for rotation within said housing adapted to convey fluid therethrough; the coils of the conduit are internally formed with a multiple of spaced abutments extending into the path of the fluid and openings are provided in the conduit adjacent each of the abutments to permit contaminants to exit from the conduit due to centrifugal forces created by the rotating spiral conduit which tends to flow the heavier substance or contaminant outwardly to the wall of the conduit; the abutments in the conduit extending into the path of the fluid set up eddy currents in the spinning liquid to spin adjacent the leading edge of the abutments in one direction and around the trailing edge of the abutments in the reverse direction collecting the heavier substances disposed in the fluid which are then forced out through the apertures adjacent said abutments. Due to the centrifugal forces set up by the continuously spinning spiral conduit, fluid is effectively prevented from exit through the openings.

United States Patent Palma [451 Dec. 19, 1972 [54] FLUID SEPARATOR [72] Inventor: James R. Palma, 1502 Curry Road,

Schenectady, NY. 12306 [22 Filed: May21,l970

[211 Appl. No.: 39,296

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3/1955 Morris ..2l0/512X 6/1959 Cloos ..209/211 Primary ExaminerReuben Friedman Assistant ExaminerF. F. Calvetti AnorneySettle and Oltman [57] ABSTRACT A fluid separator for separating solids from a liquid or separating a heavier substance from a lighter liquid substance by means of centrifugal force in conjunction with the eddy current principle comprising a housing or jacket containing a spirally formed fluid conduit for rotation within said housing adapted to convey fluid therethrough; the coils of the conduit are internally formed with a multiple of spaced abutments extending into the path of the fluid and openings are provided in the conduit adjacent each of the abutments to permit contaminants to exit from the conduit due to centrifugal forces created by the rotating spiral conduit which tends to flow the heavier substance or contaminant outwardly to the wall of the conduit; the abutments in the conduit'extending into the path of the fluid set up eddy, currents in the spinning liquid to spin adjacent the leading edge of the abutments in one direction and around the trailing edge of the abutments in the reverse direction collecting the heavier substances disposed in the fluid which are then forced out through the apertures adjacent said abutments. Due to the centrifugal forces set up by the continuously spinning spiral conduit, fluid is effectively prevented from exit through the openings.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTED DEC 19 1972 IN JENTOI?v ELQ JAMES R PALMA.

SETTLE a OLTMAN.

ATT'YS.

FLUID SEPARATOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a filtering apparatus and more in particular to a centrifugal fluid separator having a rotatable spirally formed conduit supported within a jacket or housing.

Centrifugal fluid filters or fluid separators are known which include means to spin the fluid within the conduit or within the filter chamber along a spiral path to thereby force contaminants or other heavier substances outwardly to the wall. of the fluid conduit or filter chamber for collection thereon and subsequent disposal to a dust collector bin or receptacle.

However, serious difficulties have been encountered in the operation of these known centrifugal fluid separators because of the difficulty of effective disposal of the contaminants or heavier substances after being separated from the fluid to prevent their re-entrainment by the fluid.

Another difficulty encountered in known fluid separators of the centrifugal type is the heat exchange effect caused by the spinning fluid which, at times, causes undesirable heating of the fluid to be filtered.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an improved fluid separator of the centrifugal type which, in addition to the fluid separation caused by centrifugal force, utilizes artifically created eddy currents to separate solids from the moving fluid.

The improvement of the present invention consists of a spiral fluid conduit which is continuously rotated to create centrifugal forces within the spiralportion of the conduit to thereby move solids or other contaminants heavier than the fluid outwardly against the wall of the conduit.

The spiral rotatable portion of the fluid conduit is provided internally with a plurality of equally spaced abutments along its entire length which extend into the path of the moving and spinning fluid. The moving fluid causes eddy currents to be created around the plurality of abutments which at the leading edge of the abutments swirl in one direction and at the trailing edge in the reverse direction. Immediately adjacent the abutment's openings or orifices are provided in the conduit angularily extending outwardly in the direction of the fluid flow and contaminants or other heavier substances are forced out through these orifices by means of the eddy current principle created by the internal abutments in combination with the centrifugal force created by the revolving spiral conduit. The centrifugal force set up by the relatively fast spinning spiral conduit also prevents fluid from passing through the orifices provided adjacent the internal abutments.

The technical advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more readily apparent by reference to the following detailed description in conjunction with the appended drawings forming a part thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The concept of the present invention is schematically illustrated by various examples in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 .is a schematic side view of the present novel coiled fluid separator;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-section along the coiled portion of the fluid separator conduit;

FIG. 3 is another longitudinal cross-sectionthrough the conduit illustrating another embodiment;

FIG. 4 illustrates a further embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 5 illustrates still another embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS With reference to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a fluid conduit generally indicated at 10, a portion of which is contained within a jacket or a housing 12. The portion 14 of the conduit 10 contained within the jacket 12 is coiled in spiral form and the conduit 10 is suitably rotatably supported in bushings 16 at both ends of the jacket 12. The spiral portion 14 of the fluid conduit 10 is continuously rotated within the jacket 12 by any conventional drive means 18.

The fluid conduit 10 is adapted to convey a fluid which, as shown in the illustration in FIG. 1, flows from the top of the figure towards the bottom along the coils of the coiled portion 14 of the conduit 10 which are slanted in the direction of fluid flow, as illustrated.

The coiled portion 14 of the conduit 10, in conjunction with the jacket 12, comprises a fluid separator adapted to separate solid contaminants from the fluid moving through the conduit 10 and 14.

With reference to FIG. 2, which shows a longitudinal cross-section of the coiled portion 14 of the conduit 10, it is seen that the coiled portion 14 of the conduit 10 is composed of a tube having a circumferential wall 20. At spaced intervals, the wall 20 of the tubular conduit is provided with indentations 22 forming internal protrusion 24 which project into the path of the fluid 26 moving through the tubular conduit. Adjacent the protrusions 24, orifices 28 are provided in the tubular wall 20 which are disposed at an angle relative to the wall surface in the direction of fluid movement.

The entire coiled portion 14 of the conduit 10 is constructed in a manner as shown in FIG. 2, providing a plurality of internal protrusions along the coils from end to end which are oppositely positioned as shown and spaced in staggered relationship along the internal wall surface of the tubular conduit.

As mentioned above, adjacent the internal protrusions 24, orifices 28 are provided extending to the outside of the conduit which are angularily positioned relative to the longitudinal axis of the conduit in the direction of fluid flow. The apertures or orifices 28 are adapted to eject substances heavier than the fluid from the flow of fluid passing through the conduit for disposal into the jacket or housing 12.

In operation the fluid is passed through the conduit 10 from the top in FIG. I and moved along the coiled portion 14 of the conduit within the housing or jacket 12 towards the bottom in FIG. 1. The coiled portion 14 of the conduit 10 in the housing or jacket 12 is continuously rotated during flow of fluid through the conduit by the drive means 18 causing spinning of the fluid in the coiled portion 14 of the conduit. The ends of the spiral tube may be axially centered.

l060l I 70589 The fluid flow in the coiled portion 14 of the conduit is obstructed by the protrusions 24 extending into the path of fluid flow causing swirls or eddy currents to be set up around the leading and trailing edges of the protrusions 24.'At the leading edge of the protrusions 24 the fluid is swirled in the direction opposite to the direction of fluid flow and at the trailing edge of the protrusions the swirling fluid rotates in the opposite direction. Contaminants or other substances heavier than the fluid passing through the conduit are continuously moved outwardly against the wall of the conduit and moved therealong in the direction of fluid flow upon approachment of the protrusions 24 the contaminants or other heavier substances are forced out through the apertures or orifices 28 by means of the swirling fluid around the leading and trailing edges of the protrusions 24. Thus, the present device to separate contaminants from the fluid utilizes centrifugal forces in conjunction with artifically created eddy currents to separate the contaminants from the fluid and to continuously eject the contaminants from the fluid conduit.

Although the internal protrusions 24 in FIG. 2 are shown to have been created by indenting the tubular wall 20 of the conduit, it will be understood that the protrusions could be created or constructed in any other manner such, as for instance, being integrally formed along the inner surface of the tubular wall 20 of the conduit.

The protrusions 24 of FIG. 2 are shown to be of substantially square cross-section in longitudinal direction of the tubular wall 20 extending inwardly along an axis normal to the longitudinal axis of the conduit.

The shape and direction of extension of the protrusions, however, can be varied in accordance with the required degree of separation depending on the kind of fluid and type of contaminants to be separated therefrom. FIGS. 3 and illustrate, by example, several modifications in the shape of the internal protrusions which can be utilized in the present invention.

In FIG. 3, the protrusions 24a are shown to be of cone shaped cross-section having an apex extending in a direction normal to the direction of fluid flow. This construction of protrustions within the path of fluid flow causes less violent swirling or eddy currents of the fluid around the leading and trailing edges of the protrusions.

In FIG. 4, the protrusions 24b extending into the path of the fluid flow are likewise of cone shaped crosssection but having its axis or apex inclined in the direction of fluid flow causing the creation of an even smoother eddy current around the leading edge of the protrusions and substantially less swirl or eddy current at the trailing edge of the protrusions 24b.

In FIG. 5, the protrusions 24c are also shown to be of cone chaped cross-section which, in this instance however, have their axis or apex inclined in the direction opposite from that shown in FIG. 4, that is, in the direction opposite to the fluid flow. By this structure, a

taminants from the fluid as the fluid approaches the protrusions.

As mentioned before, the desired shape of theprotrusions 24 is dependent primarily on the type of fluid flowing through the conduit 10; the kind of contaminants to be separated therefrom and the rate of fluid flow through the conduitl0 so that the most effective shape of the protrusions may be choosen for any particular fluid separation requirement.

It will be evident from the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings that the present invention provides an effective means to separate contaminants from a moving and spinning fluid by utilizing the centrifugal separation principle in conjunction with eddy currents set up in the fluid which are created by obstructions extending into the path of the moving fluid and ejecting the contaminants from the fluid through orifices provided adjacent the obstructions.

The present invention has been described and disclosed in connection with several preferred embodiments thereof which, however, are not considered to be construed as a limitation, but rather as various examples of modifications of the invention well within the scope as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A fluid separator for separating contaminants from a moving fluid, said separator including incombination, a housing, a spirally shaped conduit extending through said housing having a plurality of helical coils in said housing and having external portions available outside said housing providing an inlet and an outlet so that fluid containing contaminants may be supplied into said inlet and through said coils and out said outlet, said conduit having a plurality of openings therethrough each communicating from the interior of said conduit to an area outsidesaid conduit within said housing, said openings being spaced lengthwise along the length of said conduit and providing paths through which contaminants can escape from the fluid in said conduit, an abutment projection close to and directly inbetween each adjoining pair of said openings and aligned with the fluid flow path between said pair of openings, each said abutment projecting inwardly of said conduit to cause fluid flowing through said conduit between said pair of openings to swirl in an eddy current in one direction at a leading edge of the respective abutment and the leading opening and to swirl in an eddy current in the opposite direction at a trailing edge of the respective abutment and the trailing opening of said pair, and means drivingly connected to said conduit to continuously rotate the coiled portion of said I shaped abutments having an apex inclined in the.

direction of fluid flow within said conduit.

5. In a fluid separator as defined in claim 3, said cone shaped abutments having an apex extending in a direction opposite to the direction of fluid flow within said conduit.

6. A fluid separator for separating contaminants from a moving fluid, said separator including in combination, a housing, a spirally shaped conduit extending through said housing and having a plurality of helical coils in said housing, said conduit having external portions available outside said housing providing an inlet and an outlet so that fluid containing contaminants may be supplied into said inlet and through said coils and out said outlet, means supporting said conduit for rotation within said housing, means drivingly connected to said conduit to continuously rotate the coiled portion of said conduit within said housing to create centrifugal forces which causes contaminants in said fluid to concentrate at the outside surface of said coils, a plurality of openings through said conduit each communicating from the interior of said conduit to an area outside said conduit within said housing, said openings being spaced lengthwise along the length of said conduit and providing paths through which contaminants can escape from the fluid in said conduit, and an abutment projection close to and directly inbetween each adjoining pair of said openings and aligned with the fluid flow path between said pair of openings, each said abutment projecting inwardly of said conduit from the wall thereof so that fluid flowing through said conduit between said pair of openings swirls in an eddy current in one direction at a leading edge of the respective abutment projection and the corresponding leading opening and swirls in an eddy current in the opposite direction at a trailing edge of the respective abutment and the corresponding trailing opening, with the combination of centrifugal forces and eddy currents ejecting contaminants from the fluid through said openings while lighter components of said fluid continue to flow through said conduit to said outlet. 

1. A fluid separator for separating contaminants from a moving fluid, said separator including in combination, a housing, a spirally shaped conduit extending through said housing having a plurality of helical coils in said housing and having external portions available outside said housing providing an inlet and an outlet so that fluid containing contaminants may be supplied into said inlet and through said coils and out said outlet, said conduit having a plurality of openings therethrough each communicating from the interior of said conduit to an area outside said conduit within said housing, said openings being spaced lengthwise along the length of said conduit and providing paths through which contaminants can escape from the fluid in said conduit, an abutment projection close to and directly inbetween each adjoining pair of said openings and aligned with the fluid flow path between said pair of openings, each said abutment projecting inwardly of said conduit to cause fluid flowing through said conduit between said pair of openings to swirl in an eddy current in one direction at a leading edge of the respective abutment and the leading opening and to swirl in an eddy current in the opposite direction at a trailing edge of the respective abutment and the trailing opening of said pair, and means drivingly connected to said conduit to continuously rotate the coiled portion of said conduit within said housing to create centrifugal forces which eject contaminants from the swirling eddy currents through the openings on opposite sides of said abutments into said housing.
 2. In a fluid separator as defined in claim 1, said abutments having a substantially rectangular cross-section.
 3. In a fluid separator as defined in claim 1, said abutments having a substantially cone shaped cross-section and having an apex extending in a direction normal to the direction of fluid flow in said conduit.
 4. In a fluid separator as defined in claim 3, said cone shaped abutments having an apex inclined in the direction of fluid flow within said conduit.
 5. In a fluid separator as defined in claim 3, said cone shaped abutments having an apex extending in a direction opposite to the direction of fluid flow within said conduit.
 6. A fluid separator for separating contaminants from a moving fluid, said separator including in combination, a housing, a spirally shaped conduit extending through said housing and having a plurality of helical coils in said housing, said conduit having external portions available outside said housing providing an inlet and an outlet so that fluid containing contaminants may be supplied into said inlet and through said coils and out said outlet, means supporting said conduit for rotation within said housing, means drivingly connected to said conduit to continuously rotate the coiled portion of said conduit within said housing to create centrifugal forces which causes contaminants in said fluid to concentrate at the outside surface of said coils, a plurality of openings through said conduit each communicating from the interior of said conduit to an area outside said conduit within said housing, said openings being spaced lengthwise along the length of said conduit and providing paths through which contaminants can escape from the fluid in said conduit, and an abutment projection close to and directly inbetween each adjoining pair of said openings and aligned wiTh the fluid flow path between said pair of openings, each said abutment projecting inwardly of said conduit from the wall thereof so that fluid flowing through said conduit between said pair of openings swirls in an eddy current in one direction at a leading edge of the respective abutment projection and the corresponding leading opening and swirls in an eddy current in the opposite direction at a trailing edge of the respective abutment and the corresponding trailing opening, with the combination of centrifugal forces and eddy currents ejecting contaminants from the fluid through said openings while lighter components of said fluid continue to flow through said conduit to said outlet. 